Before this weekend’s Division I state girls golf tournament, 2011 champion Danielle Nicholson predicted the player who putts the best would win the tournament.
The Geneva sophomore’s words rang true as she struggled on the greens during a final-round 82 at Ohio State’s Gray Course that was good enough for an overall score of 152 and a tie for ninth place.
“I didn’t play well, 43 putts,” she admitted. “I just couldn’t get acclimated to the speeds and didn’t read the greens real well. It seemed like the greens were a little slower today and you would think it would help me out, since I’m used to playing on slower greens, but it didn’t.”
Nicholson shot a tidy opening round 70 on Friday with just 33 putts, leaving her in a tie for second place, two shots behind Highland’s Jessica Provasnik.
Provasnik went on to shoot a 72 Saturday and claim the state championship.
Nicholson never seemed to get going on Saturday. Despite hitting 13 greens she said she didn’t give herself many legitimate birdie chances which led to seven three-putts.
“I kept the ball in play for the most part,” she said. “I only had one errant drive that I hit it out to the right. I just didn’t give myself any makeable putts. It seemed most of my birdie putts were 30 feet and outside.
“My lag putting was quite atrocious.”
While Nicholson was hard on herself, Eagles coach Rob DiPofi chose to look at that positives.
“Quite honestly, she knows if she shot 76 she’d have finished second, but I don’t want to be negative,” he said. “This is her second-year in a row in the upper echelon of players in the state. I think, to a certain degree, she had a bull’s eye on her and this might end up relieving a little pressure, whether she’d admit that or not.”
DiPofi also thought the round was an important life lesson for his young player, who finishes as a second-team All-Ohio player for the season.
“For Danielle, it’s a learning experience,” he said. “You see who you’re competing against. Even when you’re done playing, you’re going to be competing for a job, competing for a college, whatever the situation.
“I tried to help her look at the big-picture scenario.”
With a sport as humbling as golf can be, despite her impressive string of success, Nicholson said she’s just trying to look at it as just one off day.
“It’s just one tournament,” she said. “My goal coming into this tournament was to shoot even or under par each round and just playing that badly was a disappointment. I obviously need to continue to work on my game.”
Although disappointed, Nicholson made sure to take a moment to thank those who came to Columbus to watch her play, and her parents, David and Linda Nicholson, who she credited for all her success.
“It was a really neat experience, looking around as I was playing and seeing all the people who came out to support me,” she said. “My parents are the only reason I am as good as I am. They put in the time. My dad comes with me to everything.
“They’ve made a lot of sacrifices to give me these opportunities.”
DiPofi said he expects Nicholson to come back strong in the 2013 season.
“I think she’s got great resolve,” he said. “She’s very strong-minded and will probably use this as a source of motivation to better herself. I’m confident that she’ll be able to get back to this setting again next year. There’s no doubt in my mind.”
Nicholson said she’ll continue to focus on her offseason training as well as her swing to help prepare.
“I think I’m going to continue with the Titleist performance program out at Spire,” she said. “I’ll keep hitting balls twice a week and continue to keep my swing going throughout the winter.”
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